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Biological Resources Site Assessment Report Hana Japan Steak House Project Site, Pleasanton, California APN: 941-1710-101 Page 2 mowed, sloping landscape. However, there are not enough shrubs to provide suitable wildlife habitat. Furthermore, there is a 3-foot cement culvert that runs throughout the center and along the southeastern border of the project site. There is also one coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia) tree that sits on the border fencing of the site. Since this tree is proposed for removal, M&A reviewed the City of Pleasanton’s tree ordinance and determined that this coast live oak tree does not meet the definition of a “heritage tree”, and, thus, does not possess any of the protections of a heritage tree. 3.1 Ruderal Herbaceous The project site is dominated by ruderal (weedy) herbaceous habitat. Ruderal communities are assemblages of plants that thrive in waste areas, roadsides, and other sites that have been routinely disturbed by human activity, often supporting many non-native plant species. Typically, hardpacked soils of roadsides, parking lots, industrial areas, and construction sites support communities of ruderal species. Ruderal vegetation is adapted to high levels of disturbance, and persists almost indefinitely in areas with continuous disturbance. The project site supports highly compacted soils that appear to be regularly mowed. Dominant grass and forb species that were observed within this habitat are non-native species such as slender wild oat (Avena barbata), Harding grass (Phalaris aquatica), Italian thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus subsp. pycnocephalus), and coyote brush (Table 1). Other vegetation observed included turkey mullein (Croton setiger), rose clover (Trifolium hirtum), curly dock (Rumex crispus), summer cottonweed (Epilobium brachycarpum), and California poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Ruderal habitats typically provide suitable environments for common animals that are adapted to living in association with humans. Wildlife species observed on or in the vicinity of the project site during the survey include Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna), Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus), Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans), California Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica), western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), Audubon’s cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii), and California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi) (Table 2). Trees in the small, oak woodland community outside of the project site provide foraging, roosting, and nesting habitat for a large variety of wildlife species, including nesting passerine birds and potentially raptors such as the Red-shouldered Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk, both of which were observed during the site visit. There are also small mammal burrows onsite, specifically, California ground squirrel burrows. 4. SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES Special-status species are those plants and animals that are legally protected under the California and Federal Endangered Species Acts (CESA and FESA, respectively) or other regulations, and species that are considered rare by the scientific community (for example, the CNPS). Special- status species also include plants and animals that meet the definition of endangered, rare, or threatened under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (14 CCR §15380) that may include species not found on either CESA or FESA lists.